Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aims to develop a computational model to assess the cumulative probability of meniscal failure in the knee joint during running. METHODS: The knee joint forces of twelve male participants were measured while running at speeds of 9 km/h, 12 km/h, and 15 km/h. These forces were used as boundary conditions in a finite element model. The proportion of high-stress elements in the meniscus during the support phase was calculated, and a Weibull distribution-based failure model was used to compute the cumulative injury probabilities of the meniscus over 360 days at the three running speeds. RESULTS: Running speed had a significant main effect on this ratio(p = 0.041, F = 3.393, η(p)(2) = 0.117), the ratio during the stance phase at 15 km/h was greater than at 9 km/h(p = 0.036, F = 5.402, Cohen's d = 1.248), but this difference was not statistically significant when compared to 12 km/h(p = 0.513, F = 1.068, Cohen's d = 0.224); similarly, there was no significant difference between 9 km/h and 12 km/h(p = 0.139, F = 1.335, Cohen's d = 0.921). CONCLUSIONS: Faster running speeds result in higher knee joint reaction forces, however, the probability of meniscal failure is lower. The risk of meniscal failure is more strongly associated with the frequency of stress applications than with the magnitude of the stress itself. Slower running speeds require more gait cycles to complete the same running distance, thereby prolonging loading duration and increasing the number of stress applications.